Chapter 36

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

After waiting for a while, Erika brought the completed hamburger steak. The hamburger was round, just like the ones I often saw in my previous life, and it was even topped with sauce.

"Wow, it looks delicious."

"Yeah, it does. Oh, I'll pour the wine."

Erika took her seat and poured wine into the three glasses.

"Master, do you have anything to say for a toast?"

When Leonora asked, I looked at Helen.

"You both did a great job. It was good work, and I hope you'll keep it up... something like that, right?"

"That's it. Cheers."

"Sure."

"Yes, cheers."

We clinked our glasses and took a sip of the wine. Indeed, this wine had a low alcohol content and was more like grape juice, making it easy to drink.

"Hot! But, it's delicious!"

Helen, who didn't drink wine, was already eating and sounded delighted. We followed and tried the hamburger steak.

"It's delicious!"

"Amazing. It's really good."

Yeah, it's good. The sauce Erika made goes well with it.

"It goes well with cheese and bread too."

"Cheese sounds good. I'll try it next time."

"Dear, I'll leave it to you."

Well, I'm glad they enjoyed it.

Since we have tomorrow off, we spent the evening enjoying the wine and the food. As we finished eating and were talking, we felt a slight tremor.

"Huh? Is it an earthquake?"

"There are no earthquakes around here."

That's right...

"By the way, didn't you hear a 'boom'?"

Huh? Did you hear it?

"Did you hear it, Leonora?"

"No, I didn't."

"Huh? Was it just my imagination?"

You said you're not good with alcohol, so maybe you were drunk?

"I heard it too."

Helen apparently heard it too.

"What was that 'boom'? Fireworks... huh?"

We heard the sound of a bell from outside.

"That's an alarm. There's a fire."

"The 'boom' that Erika and Helen heard might be related."

The two of them stood up.

"Are you going to be a spectator?"

"Zig, Erika's family also lives in this town, you know?"

Oh, I misspoke.

"Sorry. We might be able to see from the third floor of the branch office."

It's close by.

"Let's go."

Since Erika said so, we left the room and headed to the branch office. We went up the stairs and arrived at the third-floor storage room. We opened the window and looked outside. In the dark night, we could see a bright spot in the distance.

"That's a fire. Erika, is it near your family's place?"

"No... that direction has factories."

Factories... some kind of trouble?

"Helen, can we say it's safe for now?"

"No, we can't."

I see.

I had a feeling it wouldn't be that simple. Being able to understand this means I've grown.

"Does this town have a fire department?"

"Of course. But is there anything we can do?"

"Do we have a Wednesday stone?"

A Wednesday stone can store water and is quite convenient.

"No, we don't..."

"Then there's nothing we can do. We'd just get in the way if we went there as weak humans."

I don't know if they'll do a bucket brigade, but either way, we'd just be spectators and a nuisance.

"Right..."

"Erika, I understand how you feel, but it's a matter of doing what you're best at. We can contribute after the fire is put out."

There will be repairs and rebuilding to do.

"Zig!"

"Huh?"

I heard a voice from below and looked down to see Lutz waving and looking up.

"What's up?"

"Can I talk to you for a moment!? I have a favor to ask!"

At a time like this?

"Wait a moment. I'll come over."

"Please!"

We closed the window and went down to the first floor. When we went outside, Lutz was waiting.

"What is it?"

"Did you hear about the fire at the factory?"

"I saw it from up there."

"Actually, the fire started in a warehouse adjacent to the factory. Moreover, the warehouse contained a stock of Tuesday stones, which exploded."

Tuesday stones are stones that intensify fire and are similar to coal.

"The fire was already there before the explosion... what's the cause?"

"Unknown. The investigation will come later. The problem is that the warehouse adjacent to the burning one has an even larger stock of Tuesday stones."

The fire from Tuesday stones is hard to extinguish and will cause significant damage...

"We need to put it out quickly. What's your favor? Just so you know, we don't have any Wednesday stones in stock."

"I know. I'm not asking for alchemy, but for your power as a 5th-class national magician."

Ah, you want me to use my magic to put out the fire. Actually, in emergencies like this, the Magic Association sends people on urgent requests.

"That's my job—"

"Master Zig!"

Suddenly, Helen, who was on my shoulder, clung to my face.

"What is it? If you want attention, wait until later."

She's such a clingy familiar.

"It's a meeting! An emergency meeting!"

"What?"

I asked while peeling Helen off.

"What were you going to say?"

"That's not my job. I'm an alchemist affiliated with the Alchemy Association. You should ask the people from the Magic Association."

I'm not involved.

"Still... it's bad."

"What's bad?"

"It's the right path. You must have been right, Master Zig. But, you said you wanted to change and start anew, didn't you?"

The right path...

Huh? Am I off track?

"Is it the right path for me, an uninvolved person, to put out the fire?"

"Good people do that. Even if Master Zig doesn't help, no one will blame you. That's why the person who acts will be praised and called a good person."

I'm not a good person...

"Hmm... I shouldn't think in terms of pros and cons."

Being praised isn't really a benefit.

"Then, let's think about it this way. The branch office's reputation isn't good right now. This is an opportunity for community service. Master Zig's reputation will reflect on the branch office. See, that's a benefit."

"Ah, I see... You're smart, Helen."

Indeed, that's a benefit.

"Come on, let's show the world the skills of Master Zig, who once scoffed at the 5th-class national magician exam."

"Alright! I'll put out the fire in no time. Lutz, lead the way."

"Huh? Ah, yeah... What was the meeting about?"

Lutz asked his cousin Erika.

"It's an important meeting. Watch with a warm heart."

That's all Erika said.

"Lutz, we don't have time. Where's the car?"

"Oh, this way. Get in."

Lutz headed towards the car he had parked nearby.

"Alright, let's go."

I called out to Erika and Leonora.

"Huh?"

"Are we going too? Won't we be in the way?"

"Since I'm new, they might not recognize me as an alchemist. You two, who are well-known, should come too."

We're doing this to improve the branch office's reputation. It wouldn't make sense if people asked, "Who is he?" In that regard, Erika, who is from this town, and Leonora, with her distinctive height and attire, are the right choices.

"I see."

"Zig, you're really excellent..."

"Got it? Let's go, my apprentices."

"Okay."

We hurried to the car Lutz had arrived in.

Thank you for reading.

If you found this work interesting or are curious about the next part, please bookmark it or rate it with ★★★★★. It would be a great encouragement for me.

Thank you!